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Friday, September 21, 2018

Talking About Climate Change Can Lead to Solving It

When it comes to the effects of climate change, the impacts may not always seem imminent or life threatening.

Climate change is complicated because it’s about the whole planet changing; often in incremental ways. Other times, it’s making existing conditions more extreme, like intensifying storms or hurricanes.

End Climate Silence: Most Americans Only Think, Not Talk, About Climate Change

Seventy percent of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family or friends, according to recent research. The result is a so-called “spiral of silence,” in which “even people who care about the issue shy away from discussing it because they so infrequently hear other people talking about it—reinforcing the spiral,” according to experts at Yale and George Mason University.

If everyone who is concerned about climate change—and data indicates that almost all Americans do, to some degree—talked about it, our policy makers, the media, our communities, and the general public would be much more aware of the problem, and talk more about solutions.

Climate Change: More Talking About It Is Better

This summer, the weather has been in the news constantly. Droughts, storms, heat waves, wild fires, and most recently Hurricane Florence, have been big topics of discussion. Each of those events has been affected and/or exacerbated by climate change. Climate change is warming the ocean affecting weather across the globe. It’s making temperatures hotter, droughts longer, and storms stronger and wetter.

The lack of discussion around the issue sends a message that we’re living a “new normal” or experiencing a rare occurrence that won’t happen again.

Fortunately, climate change is not too big a problem to solve.

Solutions in Our Grasp: Real Progress, Right Now

You can take actions today to help fight climate change.

Talk to your family, your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers, and others about climate change. Talk about the science behind it, and hear how others feel about it, too. Inspire others, share the good news around climate change success stories you’re aware of (like the health benefits of using clean energy for better air quality). You might even inspire people to join in your climate action!

There’s a new organization called End Climate Silence that wants to hear from everyone who is excited about opening up the climate conversation. They invite anyone interested to make their voice heard. End Climate Silence also lists ways that you can communicate with elected officials, community leaders, and political candidates to emphasize the importance, and urgency, of climate change solutions.